LANCASTER — Inspiration for an award-winning dish can come from anywhere, including a magazine article, a variation of a family tradition or a borrowed recipe.

But for Jean Comer, her recipe for her first-place dish in the pork recipe cook-off Thursday at the Fairfiled County Fair kind of smacked her in face.

“My friend sent me a strawberry chicken recipe, and I thought, ‘This would be good with pork,’ ” said Comer, of Lancaster.

Comer said she made her honey zing pork kabobs for the first time Wednesday night and then made some quick adjustments for the competition early Thursday morning.

“I’ve been doing this since 2006,” she said. “I found the recipe, marinated the meat and grilled it. I was out grilling at 9:30 this morning.”

After Wednesday’s test run, Comer said her husband suggested adding a bit of hot sauce.

“That’s the zing,” she said.

Comer said it was her first win in the pork category. She said she took first in the beef and stew categories in the past.

“Sometimes, you just find your recipes. Other times, it’s variations. But this time, this one just came to me.”

Judge Dee Conrad said contestants had certain criteria they were required to meet in the cook-off. Among the criteria, Conrad said, the dish had to be prepared with fresh pork, not bacon, ham or sausage.

“The judging is based on flavor, convenience and presentation,” Conrad said. “They are also only allowed to use eight other ingredients in their dish.”

Another dish with a kick, complemented with hot pepper relish, took second place. Diane Bresler said her pig-skin roll ups, which were made with puff pastries, cream cheese, cheese and almonds, were a variation on a recipe she found.

“I made it three or four times, and my sons tasted it,” said Bresler, of Lancaster.

Both women were thrilled with their wins and say they plan to use their prize money to offset fair costs.